Textronic Capacitive Sensor with an RFID Interface.

This article presents an innovative combination of textile electrical circuits with advanced capabilities of electronic RFID sensors, indicating the revolutionary nature of the development of textronics, which is used in various areas of life, from fashion to medicine. A review of the literature relating to the construction of textronic RFID identifiers and capacitive textronic sensors is performed. Various approaches to measuring capacity using RFID tags are discussed. This article focuses on presenting the concept of a capacitive sensor with an RFID interface, consisting of a microelectronic part and a textile part. The textile part is based on the WL4007 material, where antennas and capacitive sensors are embroidered using SPARKFUN DEV 11791 conductive thread. The antenna is a half-wave dipole designed to operate at a frequency of 860 MHZ. The microelectronic part is sewn to the textile part and consists of a microcontroller, an RFID-integrated circuit and a coupling loop, placed on the PCB. The embroidered antenna is coupled with a loop on the microelectronic module. This article focuses on presenting various designs of textronic electrodes, enabling various types of measurements. Article presents capacitance measurements of individual sensor electrodes, made using a measuring bridge and a built RFID tag. The sensors' capacity measurement results are shown.

Compact Wideband Tapered Slot Antenna Using Fan-Shaped and Stepped Structures for Chipless Radio-Frequency-Identification Sensor Tag Applications.

In this paper, two kinds of miniaturization methods for designing a compact wideband tapered slot antenna (TSA) using either fan-shaped structures only or fan-shaped and stepped structures were proposed. First, a miniaturization method appending the fan-shaped structures, such as quarter circular slots (QCSs), half circular slots (HCSs), and half circular patches (HCPs), to the sides of the ground conductor for the TSA was investigated. The effects of appending the QCSs, HCSs, and HCPs sequentially on the input reflection coefficient and gain characteristics of the TSA were compared. The compact wideband TSA using the first miniaturization method showed the simulated frequency band for a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) less than 2 of 2.530-13.379 GHz (136.4%) with gain in the band ranging 3.1-6.9 dBi. Impedance bandwidth was increased by 29.7% and antenna size was reduced by 39.1%, compared to the conventional TSA. Second, the fan-shaped structures combined with the stepped structures (SSs) were added to the sides of the ground conductor to further miniaturize the TSA. The fan-shaped structures based on the HCSs and HCPs were appended to the ground conductor with the QCSs and SSs. The compact wideband TSA using the second miniaturization method had the simulated frequency band for a VSWR less than 2 of 2.313-13.805 GHz (142.6%) with gain in the band ranging 3.0-8.1 dBi. Impedance bandwidth was increased by 37.8% and antenna size was reduced by 45.9%, compared to the conventional TSA. Therefore, the increase in impedance bandwidth and the size reduction effect of the compact wideband TSA using the second miniaturization method were better compared to those using the first method. In addition, sidelobe levels at high frequencies decreased while gain at high frequencies increased. A prototype of the compact wideband TSA using the second miniaturization method was fabricated on an RF-35 substrate to validate the simulation results. The measured frequency band for a VSWR less than 2 was 2.320-13.745 GHz (142.2%) with measured gain ranging 3.1-7.9 dBi.

Propagation Analysis of an RFID System in the UHF Band in the Honeycomb Frame of a Beehive.

In recent years, communication systems, including RFID, have been used in intelligent beehives for beekeeping. RFID systems in the UHF frequency band offer reading distances of tens of centimetres, allowing the localisation and identification of the queen bee inside the hive. With this purpose, this work proposes an analysis of an environment of propagation that consists of a honeycomb frame, where the reader is placed within the frame, and the tag is placed in different positions over it. A honeycomb frame consists of a wooden box containing a honey wax panel, supported by metallic wires. The environment is modelled theoretically using its S-parameters and simulated in CST Studio. An analysis of these results and empirical measurements is performed. The results show that a periodicity in the received power of the tag is found with respect to the distance to the reader when the tag is located in a direction parallel to the wire, where local maximum and minimum values are found. Additionally, when the tag is placed over a wire of the frame, a higher received power is obtained compared to the case where the tag is placed between two wires. Furthermore, it has been observed that the reading range has increased with respect to free space, covering the full frame.

Novel Technologies towards the Implementation and Exploitation of "Green" Wireless Agriculture Sensors.

This manuscript presents the use of three novel technologies for the implementation of wireless green battery-less sensors that can be used in agriculture. The three technologies, namely, additive manufacturing, energy harvesting, and wireless power transfer from airborne transmitters carried from UAVs, are considered for smart agriculture applications, and their combined use is demonstrated in a case study experiment. Additive manufacturing is exploited for the implementation of both RFID-based sensors and passive sensors based on humidity-sensitive materials. A number of energy-harvesting systems at UHF and ISM frequencies are presented, which are in the position to power platforms of wireless sensors, including humidity and temperature IC sensors used as agriculture sensors. Finally, in order to provide wireless energy to the soil-based sensors with energy harvesting features, wireless power transfer (WPT) from UAV carried transmitters is utilized. The use of these technologies can facilitate the extensive use and exploitation of battery-less wireless sensors, which are environmentally friendly and, thus, "green". Additionally, it can potentially drive precision agriculture in the next era through the implementation of a vast network of wireless green sensors which can collect and communicate data to airborne readers so as to support, the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning-based decision-making with data.

Empowering the Blind: Contactless Activity Recognition with Commodity Software-Defined Radio and Ultra-High-Frequency Radio Frequency Identification.

This study presents a novel computational radio frequency identification (RFID) system designed specifically for assisting blind individuals, utilising software-defined radio (SDR) with coherent detection. The system employs battery-less ultra-high-frequency (UHF) tag arrays in Gen2 RFID systems, enhancing the transmission of sensed information beyond standard identification bits. Our method uses an SDR reader to efficiently manage multiple tags with Gen2 preambles implemented on a single transceiver card. The results highlight the system's real-time capability to detect movements and direction of walking within a four-meter range, indicating significant advances in contactless activity monitoring. This system not only handles the complexities of multiple tag scenarios but also delineates the influence of system parameters on RFID operational efficiency. This study contributes to assistive technology, provides a platform for future advancements aimed at addressing contemporary limitations in pseudo-localisation, and offers a practical, affordable assistance system for blind individuals.

Online feeding behavior monitoring of individual group-housed grow-finish pigs using a low-frequency RFID electronic feeding system.

Early identification of animals in need of management intervention is critical to maximize animal health and welfare and minimize issues with productivity. Feeding behavior, captured by automated feeding systems, can be used to monitor the health and welfare status of individual pigs. Here, we present a framework for monitoring feeding behavior of grow-finish pigs in real time, using a low-frequency radio frequency identification (RFID) system. Using historical data, an autoregressive linear model for predicting daily time at the feeder was developed and utilized to detect anomalous decreases in feeding behavior associated with health status of the pig. A total of 2,826 pigs were individually monitored with our warning system over the entire grow-finish period, and health warnings were compared to caretaker diagnoses. The system detected 55.7% of the caretaker diagnoses, and on average these events were detected 2.8 d earlier than diagnosis by the caretaker. High numbers of potentially spurious health warnings, generated by the system, can be partly explained by the lack of a reliable and repeatable gold standard reference data set. Results from this work provide a solid basis for monitoring individual animals, but further improvements to the system are necessary for practical implementation.

The digital lab manager: Automating research support.

Laboratory management automation is essential for achieving interoperability in the domain of experimental research and accelerating scientific discovery. The integration of resources and the sharing of knowledge across organisations enable scientific discoveries to be accelerated by increasing the productivity of laboratories, optimising funding efficiency, and addressing emerging global challenges. This paper presents a novel framework for digitalising and automating the administration of research laboratories through The World Avatar, an all-encompassing dynamic knowledge graph. This Digital Laboratory Framework serves as a flexible tool, enabling users to efficiently leverage data from diverse systems and formats without being confined to a specific software or protocol. Establishing dedicated ontologies and agents and combining them with technologies such as QR codes, RFID tags, and mobile apps, enabled us to develop modular applications that tackle some key challenges related to lab management. Here, we showcase an automated tracking and intervention system for explosive chemicals as well as an easy-to-use mobile application for asset management and information retrieval. Implementing these, we have achieved semantic linking of BIM and BMS data with laboratory inventory and chemical knowledge. Our approach can capture the crucial data points and reduce inventory processing time. All data provenance is recorded following the FAIR principles, ensuring its accessibility and interoperability.

Applications of Chipless RFID Humidity Sensors to Smart Packaging Solutions.

Packaging solutions have recently evolved to become smart and intelligent thanks to technologies such as RFID tracking and communication systems, but the integration of sensing functionality in these systems is still under active development. In this paper, chipless RFID humidity sensors suitable for smart packaging are proposed together with a novel strategy to tune their performances and their operating range. The sensors are flexible, fast, low-cost and easy to fabricate and can be read wirelessly. The sensitivity and the humidity range where they can be used are adjustable by changing one of the sensor's structural parameters. Moreover, these sensors are proposed as double parameter sensors, using both the frequency shift and the intensity variation of the resonance peak for the measure of the relative humidity. The results show that the sensitivity can vary remarkably among the sensors proposed, together with the operative range. The sensor suitability in two specific smart packaging applications is discussed. In the first case, a threshold sensor in the low-humidity range for package integrity verification is analyzed, and in the second case, a more complex measurement of humidity in non-hermetic packages is investigated. The discussion shows that the sensor configuration can easily be adapted to the different application needs.

Experimental Ecotoxicology Procedures Interfere with Honey Bee Life History.

Apis mellifera was used as a model species for ecotoxicological testing. In the present study, we tested the effects of acetone (0.1% in feed), a solvent commonly used to dissolve pesticides, on bees exposed at different developmental stages (larval and/or adult). Moreover, we explored the potential effect of in vitro larval rearing, a commonly used technique for accurately monitoring worker exposure at the larval stage, by combining acetone exposure and treatment conditions (in vitro larval rearing vs. in vivo larval rearing). We then analyzed the life-history traits of the experimental bees using radio frequency identification technology over three sessions (May, June, and August) to assess the potential seasonal dependence of the solvent effects. Our results highlight the substantial influence of in vitro larval rearing on the life cycle of bees, with a 47.7% decrease in life span, a decrease of 0.9 days in the age at first exit, an increase of 57.3% in the loss rate at first exit, and a decrease of 40.6% in foraging tenure. We did not observe any effect of exposure to acetone at the larval stage on the capacities of bees reared in vitro. Conversely, acetone exposure at the adult stage reduced the bee life span by 21.8% to 60%, decreased the age at first exit by 1.12 to 4.34 days, and reduced the foraging tenure by 30% to 37.7%. Interestingly, we found a significant effect of season on acetone exposure, suggesting that interference with the life-history traits of honey bees is dependent on season. These findings suggest improved integration of long-term monitoring for assessing sublethal responses in bees following exposure to chemicals during both the larval and adult stages. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1320-1331. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Male starling floaters preferentially visit nests of males with reduced resource holding potential.

Floaters are sexually mature individuals that are not able to reproduce by defending breeding resources. Floaters often visit active nests, probably to gather public information or to compete for a nesting site. We tested the hypothesis that floaters preferentially prospect nests in which they have a better chance of taking over, and that they do so by assessing the owners' resource holding potential (RHP). We manipulated the flight capacity of male and female breeders in a population of spotless starlings (Sturnus unicolor) by clipping two flight feathers per wing before egg laying, thus increasing their wing-load and likely impairing their condition. We subsequently monitored breeder and floater activity by means of transponder readers during the nestling period. We found that nests owned by wing-clipped males were visited by a greater number of male floaters than control nests. This effect was absent in the case of wing-clipped females. The number of male floaters also increased with increasing nestling age and number of parental visits. The experiment shows that male floaters preferentially prospect nests in which the owner shows a reduced RHP, a strategy that likely allows them to evict weak owners and take over their nests for future reproductive attempts.

Ergonomic RFID tag placement on surgical instruments - a preliminary user study.

OBJECTIVES: RFID tags on surgical instruments allow tracking of individual instruments. However, the tags on the instruments can restrict the handling, potentially increasing patient risks. Previous studies analyzed hand contact areas to identify potential locations for tags. However, the studies did not conduct interaction tests using instruments equipped with RFID tags, potentially neglecting the influence of haptic perception. In addition, previous studies required time-consuming evaluations by clinicians. METHODS: Therefore, the present study aims to verify the previous findings in interaction-centered tests with clinicians using real RFID tags on the instruments. Additionally, we had instrument design experts rate RFID tag positions and examined whether they could predict the clinician's preferred tag positions. RESULTS: We found that nearly all RFID tag positions decreased the user satisfaction of clinicians compared to a reference instrument. Compared to previous studies, our study shows that the RFID tag influences the orientations in which an instrument can be comfortably held, which was criticized by clinicians. Instrument design experts could only predict the clinician's preferred tag positions for some instruments. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, we recommend investigating further changes to instrument design, for what the "ideal" positions proposed by the clinicians in this study can provide initial pointers.

Health and environmental effects to wildlife from radio telemetry and tracking devices-state of the science and best management practices.

This paper discusses the potential health risks and benefits to tagged wildlife from the use of radio tracking, radio telemetry, and related microchip and data-logger technologies used to study, monitor and track mostly wildlife in their native habitats. Domestic pets, especially canids, are briefly discussed as radio-tagging devices are also used on/in them. Radio tracking uses very high frequency (VHF), ultra-high frequency (UHF), and global positioning system (GPS) technologies, including via satellites where platform terminal transmitters (PTTs) are used, as well as geo-locating capabilities using satellites, radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips, and passive integrated responder (PIT) tags, among others. Such tracking technologies have resulted in cutting-edge findings worldwide that have served to protect and better understand the behaviors of myriad wildlife species. As a result, scientists, field researchers, technicians, fish and wildlife biologists and managers, plus wildlife and other veterinarian specialists, frequently opt for its use without fully understanding the ramifications to target species and their behaviors. These include negative physiological effects from electromagnetic fields (EMF) to which many nonhuman species are exquisitely sensitive, as well as direct placement/use-attachment impacts from radio collars, transmitters, and implants themselves. This paper provides pertinent studies, suggests best management practices, and compares technologies currently available to those considering and/or using such technologies. The primary focus is on the health and environmental risk/benefit decisions that should come into play, including ethical considerations, along with recommendations for more caution in the wildlife and veterinarian communities before such technologies are used in the first place.

Artificial Intelligence-Assisted RFID Tag-Integrated Multi-Sensor for Quality Assessment and Sensing.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is well known as an identification, track, and trace approach and is considered to be the key physical layer technology for the industrial internet of things (IIoT). However, IIoT systems have to introduce additional complex sensor networks for pervasive monitoring, and there are still challenges related to item-level sensing and data recording. To overcome the shortage, this work proposes an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted RFID-based multi-sensing technology. Both passive and semi-passive RFID tag-integrated multi-sensors are developed. The main contributions and the novelty of this investigation are as follows. A UHF RFID tag-integrated multi-sensor with a boosted charge pump is proposed; it enables high RF signal sensitivity and a long operational range. The whole hardware design, including the antenna and energy harvester, are studied. Moreover, a demonstration with real-world ham product sensing data is conducted. This work also proposes and successfully demonstrates the integration of machine learning algorithms, specifically the NARX neural network, with RFID sensing data for food product quality assessment and sensing (QAS). This application of machine learning to RFID-generated data for quality assessment is also a novel aspect of the research. The deployment of an autoregressive model with an exogenous input (NARX) neural network model, tailored for nonlinear processes, emerges as the most effective, achieving a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.007 and an R-squared value of 0.99 for ham product QAS. By deploying the technology, low-cost, timely, and flexible product QAS can be achieved in manufacturing industries, which helps product quality improvement and the optimization of the manufacturing line and supply chain.

Intensive Longitudinal Social Sensing in Patients With Psychosis Spectrum Disorders: An Exploratory Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Psychosis spectrum disorders are characterized by significant alterations in social functioning, which is a major factor for patient recovery. Despite its importance, objectively quantifying the complex day-to-day social behavior in real-life settings has rarely been attempted. Here, we conducted a pilot study with wearable sensors that passively and continuously register interactions with other participants. We hypothesized that the amount and pattern of social interaction was associated with the severity of psychotic symptoms. STUDY DESIGN: We recruited 7 patients with psychosis spectrum disorders and 18 team members from a Soteria-style ward. Each participant wore a radio frequency identification badge, sending and receiving signals from nearby badges, allowing passive quantification of social interactions. In addition, symptom severity was assessed weekly by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). STUDY RESULTS: During an 11-week period, we identified 17 970 interactions among patients and staff. On average, patients spent 2.6 h per day interacting, capturing relevant aspects of daily social life. Relative daily interaction time, average interaction duration, and clustering coefficient, a measure of local network integration, were significantly associated with lower PANSS scores. Self-reported interaction time did not correlate with measured interaction time or with PANSS, indicating the importance of objective markers. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of passively recording social interaction of patients and staff at high resolution and for a long observation period in a real-life setting in a psychiatric department. We show links between quantified social interaction and psychopathology that may facilitate development and personalization of targeted treatments.

Effect of Beverage Composition on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Performance Using Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Bottles for Smart Food Packaging Applications.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is crucial in revolutionizing the food supply chain and combating global food waste. However, this technology faces challenges in full integration due to disruptive effects on tags caused by the dielectric properties of food and beverage ingredients, chemical constituents, and their packaging. This paper aims to demonstrate the effect of packaging and beverage contents on RFID tag performance. Three commercially available ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID tags with different designs were tested on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, measuring tag performance through sensitivity, backscatter, and read range in the presence of various water-based solutions and commercially available beverages. The results highlight the substantial impact of the beverage type and tag design on RFID performance. The results of this study showed that tag 3 was the most consistent and readable tag amongst those tested in the presence of different beverage contents. Tag 3 resulted in a sensitivity ranging from -0.49 to -2.01 dBm, backscatter from -38.16 to 43.59 dBm, and read range from 1.58 to 1.88 m, while tag 1 performed the best in the presence of an empty PET bottle resulting in a sensitivity of -20.78 dBm, backscatter of -23.65 dBm, and read range of 16.34 m. The results of this study can be used for further investigations to develop a mathematical model that predicts the RFID tag performance based on the food composition. This model will be helpful for the design of the tags while facilitating the adoption of smart packaging for food traceability.

The Rise of Passive RFID RTLS Solutions in Industry 5.0.

In today's competitive landscape, manufacturing companies must embrace digital transformation. This study asserts that integrating Internet of Things (IoT) technologies for the deployment of real-time location systems (RTLS) is crucial for better monitoring of critical assets. Despite the challenge of selecting the right technology for specific needs from a wide range of indoor RTLS options, this study provides a solution to assist manufacturing companies in exploring and implementing IoT technologies for their RTLS needs. The current academic literature has not adequately addressed this industrial reality. This paper assesses the potential of Passive UHF RFID-RTLS in Industry 5.0, addressing the confusion caused by the emergence of new 'passive' RFID solutions that compete with established 'active' solutions. Our research aims to clarify the real-world performance of passive RTLS solutions and propose an updated classification of RTLS systems in the academic literature. We have thoroughly reviewed both the academic and industry literature to remain up to date with the latest market advancements. Passive UHF RFID has been proven to be a valuable addition to the RTLS domain, capable of addressing certain challenges. This has been demonstrated through the successful implementation in two industrial sites, each with different types of tagged objects.

A Compact and Robust RFID Tag Based on an AMC Structure.

A platform-tolerant RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) tag is presented, designed to operate across the entire RFID band. This tag utilizes a small Artificial Magnetic Conductor (AMC) structure as a shielding element for an ungrounded RFID tag antenna. It can be easily mounted on various surfaces, including low permittivity dielectric materials, metal objects, or even attached to the human body for wearable applications. The key features of this RFID tag include its ability to be tuned within the worldwide RFID band, achieving a maximum theoretical read range of over 11 m. Despite its advanced capabilities, the design emphasizes simplicity and cost-effective manufacturing. The design and simulations were conducted using CST Studio Suite.

Planar Thermoelectric Microgenerators in Application to Power RFID Tags.

This paper presents an innovative approach to the integration of thermoelectric microgenerators (µTEGs) based on thick-film thermopiles of planar constantan-silver (CuNi-Ag) and calcium cobaltite oxide-silver (Ca3Co4O9-Ag) thick-film thermopiles with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. The goal was to consider using the TEG for an active or semi-passive RFID tag. The proposed implementation would allow the communication distance to be increased or even operated without changing batteries. This article discusses the principles of planar thermoelectric microgenerators (µTEGs), focusing on their ability to convert the temperature difference into electrical energy. The concept of integration with active or semi-passive tags is presented, as well as the results of energy efficiency tests, considering various environmental conditions. On the basis of the measurements, the parameters of thermopiles consisting of more thermocouples were simulated to provide the required voltage and power for cooperation with RFID tags. The conclusions of the research indicate promising prospects for the integration of planar thermoelectric microgenerators with RFID technology, opening the way to more sustainable and efficient monitoring and identification systems. Our work provides the theoretical basis and practical experimental data for the further development and implementation of this innovative technology.

Chipless RFID based multi-sensor tag for printed electronics.

This research presents the design and implementation of a chipless Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) multi-sensor tag on a flexible laminate. Along with the tag's primary function of data encoding for object identification purposes, the tag also incorporates moisture and temperature sensing functionalities within a compact size measuring a mere 15 × 16 mm2. The tag structure comprises of a total 29 resonators, with each resonator corresponding to one bit in the microwave response. The initial design utilized the bendable Rogers RT/duroid®5880 within a frequency band of 5.48-28.87 GHz. To conduct a comprehensive comparative analysis, the tag design is optimized for two distinct substrates including Kapton®HN and PET. The optimization process involves exploring the utilization of both silver nanoparticle-based ink and Aluminum as radiators. The sensing feature was incorporated by deploying a thin film of Kapton®HN over the longest slot of the tag which acts as a moisture sensor. Temperature sensing feature was achieved by combining Stanyl® polyamide, a temperature dependent polymer, with Rogers RT/duroid®5880 which served as a fused substrate. The tag showcases a high code density of 12.08 bits/cm2 enabling it to efficiently label 229 unique items. Its unique features include flexibility, miniaturized design, printability, cost-effectiveness and multi sensing property.

Displacement Estimation via 3D-Printed RFID Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring: Leveraging Machine Learning and Photoluminescence to Overcome Data Gaps.

Monitoring object displacement is critical for structural health monitoring (SHM). Radio frequency identification (RFID) sensors can be used for this purpose. Using more sensors enhances displacement estimation accuracy, especially when it is realized through the use of machine learning (ML) algorithms for predicting the direction of arrival of the associated signals. Our research shows that ML algorithms, in conjunction with adequate RFID passive sensor data, can precisely evaluate azimuth angles. However, increasing the number of sensors can lead to gaps in the data, which typical numerical methods such as interpolation and imputation may not fully resolve. To overcome this challenge, we propose enhancing the sensitivity of 3D-printed passive RFID sensor arrays using a novel photoluminescence-based RF signal enhancement technique. This can boost received RF signal levels by 2 dB to 8 dB, depending on the propagation mode (near-field or far-field). Hence, it effectively mitigates the issue of missing data without necessitating changes in transmit power levels or the number of sensors. This approach, which enables remote shaping of radiation patterns via light, can herald new prospects in the development of smart antennas for various applications apart from SHM, such as biomedicine and aerospace.